puting a date on the eggs under a broody

[RoosterDon]

so we have a new brooder. she was proudly sitting on three eggs. after our last adventure with hens adding eggs when the brooder took a break, i decided this morning to put yesterdays date on the eggs. she was not too thrilled, but allowed me to pick each egg out, then put each egg back.

so this evening i went up to check on her and she had moved to the nesting box next to her first one, and left the three eggs, and was sitting on two new ones.

so, i don't know if other hens laid two eggs next to her, she took a break, then got confused????? and simply went to the wrong nest? or is it possible that putting a date on her eggs caused her to abandon them?

the temperature here in central texas is quite warm, but the nesting boxes are in the shade and covered, so they don't get direct sun or the advertised heat. when i moved the eggs over, they were NO LONGER WARM.

should those three be okay? or should i incubate them now? would 6-7 hours of not sitting on them be something to be alarmed about?

thank you.

 

[Free Feather]

Give them back to her. I have had a hen go on the wrong nest in cold early spring for a few hours, and they were still fine.

 

[RoosterDon]

Thanks Free!!! I did. She stayed on them. I think she was just confused. My wife told me it was all hormonal so I should have sympathy. lol. Which I do.....

 

[donrae]

Just a tip for next time--I draw circles all the way around the eggs I want her to hatch, so I can see which eggs are marked from any angle. If you simply date them, you can't always see the date if the egg is rolled the wrong way and you have to mess with the hen more. This way I simply have to walk my fingers under her bum and tip her forward, I can easily see if any eggs have been added.